SARNIA – A 12/10 week for these two.
Center Samuel Babatunde Sowunmi (Men’s Basketball) and guard Legacie Blackbird (Women’s Baksetball) have been named the Lambton Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of January 15 - 21 for their efforts at home on Friday night against a pair of nationally ranked opponents from Mohawk College.
Sowunmi, who is affectionately known as Big Sow, had his biggest game in a Lambton uniform on Friday night. The six-foot-ten center was a factor on both ends of the floor all night for the Lions, and the Mountaineers couldn’t contain Sowunmi. Sowunmi recorded his third double-double of the season as the Lions knocked off the 14th-ranked Mountaineers in overtime, 91-84.
In 35 minutes of action, Sowunmi recorded 20 points and 23 rebounds to go along with three blocks. He finished the night shooting 8-for-12 (66.7%) from the field and 4-for-5 (80.0%) from the free throw line. Eleven of his rebounds came on the offensive glass, which were a big factor in the 17 second-chance points that the Lions scored.
Down the stretch, Sowunmi came through when the Lions needed him the most. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Sowunmi had 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the Lions come away with the seven-point victory.
For the season, the fifth-year big man now ranks second in the OCAA with 50 offensive rebounds, and he’s tied for third in the league with 10.3 rebounds per game.
In her first season with the Lions, Blackbird has been a quiet yet steady presence in the back court on both ends of the floor. On Friday night, she put together a season-best performance on offense while being as reliable as ever on the defensive end as the Lions never trailed in their 76-54 win over the 10th-ranked Mohawk Mountaineers.
Blackbird, a third-year guard from Walpole Island, had a season-high 10 points on 3-of-7 (42.9%) shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. She also recorded seven rebounds, three assists, and a team-high six steals in the win.
In the third quarter was when Blackbird did the bulk of her damage on the offensive end. She scored six of her 10 points in the quarter as she connected on both of her made three pointers. The Lions stretched their lead to 15 points in the third quarter after outscoring the Mountaineers by a 24-14 margin, and they never looked back from there.
Over her last three games, Blackbird is averaging 6.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per contest.
Congratulations to both Samuel and Legacie on being named this week’s Lambton Student-Athletes of the Week!
This year’s Athlete of the Week awards are presented by the Lambton College Student Administrative Council.
For more information, or for any media inquiries within Lambton College Athletics, please contact:
Tyler Bennett
Lambton College Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator
tyler.bennett@lambtoncollege.ca